In case you haven’t seen it, [Niklas Backstrom and the Washington Capitals announced that due to ongoing issues with recovery from his hip injury, he will be stepping away from hockey to re-evaluate his options.](https://twitter.com/Capitals/status/1719723592366088699?s=20)
It doesn’t take a soothsayer to see that this likely means Backstrom’s career is all but over. At minimum, his time as a regular, impact player in the NHL is over, and it effectively *has* been for a few seasons now.
I say this because Backstrom’s hip injury, and the hip resurfacing procedure he underwent to attempt to fix it, is the same thing Patrick Kane is dealing with now. I think there are still a lot of holdouts on here that think a “healthy” Kane is a missing piece for the Rangers at RW, but the reality is that “healthy” Kane is gone, and likely never to return.
NHL players just do not come back from this. Ed Jovanovski had the procedure and played 37 more ineffective games before retiring. Ryan Kesler never played again after having hip resurfacing surgery. Backstrom has been even more of a shell of his former self since having the procedure than before and now will essentially be LTIR-retired.
It’s time to accept that Kane as a key piece on the Rangers will never happen. It’s a shame he wasn’t the same player for the brief time he was here – but he’s likely never going to be that guy again and it’s time we move past discussing him as an impact option at RW.
by Robtachi
13 Comments
BUT BUT BUT HES THE ONLY PERSON WHO CAN WIN A CUP /s finally someone says it. We don’t need him and there’s no point in signing him even on a vet minimum. Chances are he doesn’t have much to add
At this point, if Kane is healthy and will take a vet minimum deal to play on our 3rd line I’m cool with it. If not sorry bro
I would honestly rather them wait out Wheeler to see if he can produce offensively. If he can score 40ish points on the 3rd line, I’d be thrilled. If not, they can upgrade him at the deadline and keep him around as spare parts for a playoff run when the cap doesn’t matter.
I really don’t think this team needs Kane to win a cup.
i cannot believe we are still talking about this guy
We don’t know when he will be ready, nor what the situation will be like. I mean, if Wheelers offensive production is nonexistant and a top 9 winger gets hurt, would people rather play Brodzinzki or some career AHLer over signing Kane for a reasonable deal for the rest of the season?
Also, I haven’t seen anyone claim he’s the missing piece or he will be peak Kane. I’m sure there are some people out there who think that, and maybe this post is for them, but I believe the Kane as Savior opinion is a very small fraction of people.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say this again. You aren’t signing Kane the Kane of old. You are signing him because he is a free asset that can be a difference maker. If he isn’t that it’s no big deal. If he is that it could mean a cup. It’s not like he’s getting a multi year multi million dollar contract
I just can’t believe some sections of this fanbase saw his performance last year for the Rangers and can seriously say, “I’d love to have him back”
I haven’t even thought about Patrick Kane for a minute since his ineffective, injured stint here last season. I’m not interested in the slightest.
How can anyone say Wheeler is even remotely close to better than Kane? Kane at least put up numbers and was a + player in the regular season and post-season. Smaller sample size, but so far Wheeler has put up ZEROs and is a minus 4.
That said, I’d say bring up Othmann at the deadline if things don’t get better with Wheels. Give him a shot to take that 3rd line spot.
For a one year league minimum it’s worth the risk, and the comparison to backstrom is unfair as he’s been struggling with injuries for the past 5 years, Kanes been relatively healthy. People are forgetting this guy was by far the best forward we had in the playoffs last year.
It means he’s most likely washed and we shouldn’t bring him back
I cant believe ppl still want him to break the dynamic the team has right now. Let us cook.
Dont bring in a guy who will end up taking a spot from laf or kakko
Bro I just had my hip replaced in June and am huckin weight every day. Clearly these guys are bitch made and half the athlete I am.